JP2002149331A - Coordinate plate, coordinate input device and coordinate input/output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coordinate plate which is suitable for a large-sized coordinate input/output device and has high portability, a coordinate input device, and a coordinate input/output device using this coordinate plate. SOLUTION: A coordinate plate 11 where pieces of coordinate information are formed is like a flexible film and is made to be light-weight, and therefore, it can be coiled in a roll shape as shown in Figure and has a high portability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate plate used for designating an input position with an input indicator such as a pen or a mouse, a coordinate input device using the coordinate plate, and a coordinate input / output device. It is about sex.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of conventional coordinate input devices are known, which are classified according to a detection principle based on a physical phenomenon for detecting the position of an input indicator. The main methods include a resistance tablet, a magnetic coupling tablet, a capacitive coupling tablet, an optical coupling tablet, a sound / vibration tablet, etc., as classified in the International Patent Classification Table (IPC). Regarding each system, for example, JP-A-5-53715 for a resistive tablet, JP-A-5-289806 for a magnetic coupling tablet, JP-A-5-80921 for a capacitive coupling tablet, and JP-A-5-5921 for an optical coupling tablet
No. 3717, a sound / vibration tablet is disclosed in JP-A-5-668.
No. 77, etc., a detailed description is omitted.

[0003] The coordinate input device as described above has various forms,
Since it has a size and is integrated with a display device of a small portable personal computer or terminal,
It has become widespread in a wide range, from those integrated with tablets or display devices used on desktops, to those mounted on large plasma displays and projector displays. In any form and size, when the pen, which is the input indicator, is brought close to or in contact with the coordinate input plate, the position coordinates of the input indicator, that is, the input point, are detected by the coordinate input device, and the computer is transmitted from the coordinate input device to the computer. Is output to A predetermined function, for example, execution of a menu command is performed by the computer based on the output result of the position coordinates of the input point.

Further, a point corresponding to the position of the input indicator or a cursor can be displayed at the position by the drive control means of the display means. Further, when the input by the input indicator is performed continuously, the trajectory of the operation of the input indicator can be displayed by connecting the input points detected at a predetermined sampling rate with a line. Furthermore, by identifying and determining the trajectory, recognition of a character or a figure, execution of a gesture command, and the like can be performed.

The conventional coordinate input devices of various types as described above are provided with means for causing various physical phenomena to occur between the input surface itself or between the input indicator and a part of the input surface side. I have. That is, in the resistance tablet, the input surface has a configuration in which two or more glass plates or resin films each having a transparent resistor are opposed to each other and overlapped. The magnetic coupling tablet has a configuration in which a loop coil-shaped transparent electrode pattern is formed in the X direction and the Y direction on a sensor surface located on the input surface or below the input surface (for example, behind the display unit superimposed on the input surface). Has become. The capacitive coupling tablet has a configuration in which a linear transparent electrode pattern is formed on the input surface in the X direction and the Y direction. In an optical coupling tablet, optical units having a light source and a light receiving unit are provided on the upper and lower sides of an input surface, and light is scanned in the immediate vicinity of the input surface. In a sound / vibration tablet, a sound wave or an elastic wave emitted or incident from an input indicator propagates in the immediate vicinity of the input surface or in the input surface.

As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional coordinate input device, the input surface itself or the means for causing various physical phenomena between the input indicator and the input surface side is used. There is a problem that the cost becomes significantly higher as the size becomes larger. That is, in the resistance tablet, it is necessary to form a transparent resistor having a uniform resistivity over the entire input surface. In magnetically coupled tablets and capacitively coupled tablets,
It is necessary to provide loop coil-shaped or line-shaped transparent electrode patterns uniformly at equal intervals in the X direction and the Y direction over the entire input area. Optically coupled tablets require sophisticated fine adjustment of the optical unit and accurate position adjustment or positioning of the left and right optical units in order to scan light in the vicinity of the input surface in parallel with the input surface. . In the case of a sound / vibration tablet, in the case of a sound wave propagating in the air, it is necessary to control the temperature of the air and accurately adjust or position a plurality of detection sensors. In the case of an elastic wave propagating in the input surface, the material constituting the input surface needs to have high uniformity in order to keep the propagation speed constant regardless of the propagation distance.

In addition, the coordinate input device as described above is directly drawn on the display screen by superimposing an input surface and a display screen integrally with a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display or the like as a display device of a personal computer. In the case of performing an input operation to a personal computer due to pointing, pointing, or the like, there are the following problems.

That is, in the resistance tablet, there is a problem that the brightness and sharpness of a displayed image are reduced because the light transmittance of a resistor such as ITO forming the transparent resistor is not sufficiently good. In the magnetic coupling tablet and the capacitive coupling tablet, a loop-shaped or linear transparent electrode pattern is formed in the X direction and the Y direction over the entire input area by electric and magnetic noise from a panel, a driving circuit or a power supply circuit of the display device. Susceptible to
There is a problem in that the detection becomes unstable, or the detection becomes more expensive to prevent the instability.
In the optical coupling tablet and the acoustic / vibration tablet, a space for providing the optical unit or the detection sensor on the input surface is required, and it is necessary to harmonize the shape of the entire device.

Further, in the optically coupled tablet and the acoustic / vibration tablet, when an operator's hand or other object is present on a path along which light, sound waves or elastic waves propagate, the detection performance is affected. There is an operational problem that degrades or becomes undetectable.

As a method for improving or avoiding the above problem, there has been proposed a coordinate input device including a coordinate plate on which coded coordinate information is recorded and an input indicator having a built-in detecting means for detecting the coordinate information. is there.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-26 by the present applicant.
No. 2832 discloses a matrix in which a rectangular area in which at least nine sections each having a different pattern corresponding to a coordinate point are arranged in a matrix on a coordinate plate is further arranged in a matrix, and the pattern includes a light emitting element and a light receiving sensor. It is disclosed that the direction and amount of relative movement are detected based on a change in a pattern by reading with a coordinate indicator.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-296 by the present applicant has been disclosed.
No. 421 discloses that different information corresponding to a coordinate point is arranged in each section divided in a matrix on a coordinate plate, detected by a coordinate indicator, and an absolute coordinate position is identified.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-296 by the present applicant has been disclosed.
No. 422 discloses that at least two types of different information are arranged on a coordinate plate by continuously changing the amount of information in different directions from each other, detected by a coordinate indicator, and identifying an absolute coordinate position. ing.

Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-80010 discloses an optical stylus having an illumination source and a pickup means, and a plurality of tablet address cells (TAC) including digitally coded XY coordinate pairs. A passive locator tablet dispersed and permanently recorded on the surface, means for defining TAC boundaries by spiral search, means for periodically sampling TAC data, and complete TAC data sampled by Plasenham search. A data generation means having a video memory for generating a TAC data pair (xy coordinate pair) and storing a video image; and a code dot image storing the fineness of the memory and the stylus optical system is composed of a plurality of pixels in both directions. Is disclosed. Also disclosed is that the passive locator tablet can be incorporated into the front surface of the display surface, that the tablet is made of plastic, TAC is formed on the display surface side, that is, the back surface of the tablet, and a glass layer is attached to the surface. Have been. Also disclosed is that the tablet is completely passive and can be placed on any surface, and multiple tablets can be placed in any convenient location, such as on a computer display, desktop, or drawing board. Has been

[0015]

However, the conventional coordinate input device as described above has the following problems. A problem common to all of the above-described coordinate input devices is that of portability. The problem is not a problem as long as it is a small coordinate input device mounted on a portable terminal or the like, but a large plasma display or a coordinate input device for a projector can be installed on various surfaces.
Even a coordinate input device including a coordinate plate on which coded coordinate information is recorded and an input indicator incorporating a detecting means for detecting the coordinate information is extremely poor in portability. In addition, in the resistance tablet, the magnetic coupling tablet, and the capacitance coupling tablet, not only the portability is extremely poor, but also a large coordinate input device is extremely expensive, and electrical wiring for processing a physical phenomenon on the input surface is required. It is extremely difficult to install for such purposes. The optical coupling tablet and the sound / vibration tablet can have portability as long as they have an optical unit or an acoustic sensor that can be attached to and detached from the input surface, but can obtain desired input accuracy or resolution. For this purpose, extremely accurate positioning of the optical unit or the acoustic sensor is required, which is a serious problem in practical use. The problem of portability of the large coordinate input device is that
As a means for inputting to a display screen of a portable or portable front projector used for various meetings or presentations, or as a detachable input means for a display screen such as a plasma display or a rear projection display. Is strongly desired.

Further, the above-mentioned various problems of the resistance tablet, the magnetic coupling tablet, the capacitive coupling tablet, the optical coupling tablet, and the sound / vibration tablet, that is, high cost due to the enlargement of the input surface, brightness and sharpness of the displayed image. Resolution, instability due to electrical and magnetic noise, limited space and equipment shape for placement, and degradation of detection performance due to the influence of the operator's hand or other objects.
Recording of coded coordinate information, and in the above three cases, reference is made to coordinate information to be arranged on a coordinate plate, but the integrated input / output with a display device and the influence of the coordinate information on a display image are described. Is not suggested at all, and the second problem cannot be avoided at all.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-80010, a tablet is made of plastic as described above, and TAC is formed on the back surface of the tablet, and glass is formed on the surface of the tablet, as described above, to provide excellent abrasion resistance. Although it is disclosed that a layer is attached, the reliability of the tablet of the first problem in use alone is not suggested at all, and the first problem cannot be sufficiently avoided. .

In Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-80010, it is desirable that the so-called input / output integrated structure of the tablet and the display device and the gray level caused by TAC be uniform over the entire tablet. Although the form of the binary code for that is mentioned,
In the first place, there is no suggestion of any method or means for reducing the degree of gray that has a large effect on the displayed image.
That is, there is a problem that the degree of gray caused by the TAC affects the sharpness of the displayed image. The problem is that, for example, based on the description in the example of Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-80010, a tablet size of 1 m × lm is required.
One dot of the corner cube representing “1” is φ24 μm,
With a TAC size of 250 × 250 μm with 7 × 7 dots,
If 25 corner cubes are formed in one TAC in order to make the degree of gray uniform, the ratio of the corner cubes occupying about 20% of the whole area of the tablet in terms of the area ratio greatly affects the sharpness of the displayed image. Naturally, as mentioned in the embodiment, there is a degree of freedom in the format of the TAC within a range in which the X and Y coordinates can be identified. However, this reference is one of the objects of Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-80010. This is for the degree of freedom of the format of the code data, and does not suggest anything about the second problem.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and has a portability coordinate plate suitable for a large-sized coordinate input / output device, a coordinate input device using the coordinate plate, and a coordinate input / output device. It is intended to provide a device.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a coordinate plate is constituted as described in the following (1) to (5), and a coordinate input device is provided in the following (6). The coordinate input / output device is configured as follows (7),
The configuration is as shown in (8).

(1) A rollable or foldable coordinate plate on which a plurality of pieces of coordinate information corresponding to X coordinate values and / or Y coordinate values are recorded.

(2) In the coordinate plate according to the above (1),
A coordinate plate wherein the coordinate plate is made of a transparent member.

(3) In the coordinate plate according to (1) or (2), the coordinate plate has a laminated structure including a plurality of layers in a thickness direction, and the coordinate information is formed between layers of the laminated structure. The coordinate plate that is being made.

(4) The coordinate plate according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein a mounting member for mounting to a display surface of a display device is provided on a back surface of the coordinate plate.

(5) In the coordinate plate according to any one of the above (1) to (3), the coordinate plate is capable of discriminating the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value from the coordinate information, and each of the coordinate information is independent. A coordinate plate recorded intermittently.

(6) A coordinate input device comprising: the coordinate plate according to any one of (1) to (5); and an input indicator having a function of detecting coordinate information of the coordinate plate.

(7) The coordinate input device according to (6),
A coordinate input / output device comprising: a display device having the coordinate plate disposed on a display surface.

(8) The image input / output device according to (7), wherein the display device is a large plasma display or a large projector display.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments of a coordinate input / output device. The present invention can also be implemented in the form of a coordinate plate and a coordinate input device, supported by the description of the embodiment.

[0030]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pen 1 of an input indicator used in a "coordinate input / output device" of Embodiment 1, and FIG. 2 is a system of the entire embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration.

First, the overall system configuration will be described. In FIG. 2, a coordinate plate 11 on which coded coordinate information is recorded is a plasma display (PDP) 21.
And a so-called integrated input / output device (coordinate input / output device). PDP21 is CPU2
A desired image is displayed by the PDP drive circuit 22 based on the instruction of (3). The pen 1 detects the coordinate information and transmits the coordinate data to the receiving means 24 connected to the CPU 23.
The CPU 23 executes a predetermined process based on the reception result of the receiving unit 24. In this processing, for example, a menu command at a position corresponding to the coordinate data of the input point by the pen 1 is executed. Further, a point corresponding to the position of the pen 1 can be displayed on the PDP 21 by the PDP drive circuit 22. When the input by the pen 1 is performed continuously, the trajectory of the operation of the pen 1 can be displayed on the PDP 21 by connecting the input point groups detected at a predetermined sampling rate with a line. Furthermore, by identifying and determining the trajectory, recognition of a character or a figure, execution of a gesture command, and the like can be performed. A switch (not shown) corresponding to a mouse button is provided on the pen 1, and when the switch is turned on, the ON information is transmitted and received together with the coordinate data, so that a menu command or an icon indicated by the pen 1 is transmitted. Can also be selected or executed. In this case, various application software can be operated with the pen 1.

Next, the configuration of the pen 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an area sensor such as a CCD area (two-dimensional) sensor or a CMOS area sensor, which is configured to read the vicinity of the surface of the coordinate plate 11 via the objective lens 3. The area sensor 2 and the objective lens 3 are arranged so that the area read by the area sensor 2 includes at least one dot array 12 representing an X coordinate value and a Y coordinate value described later. Be composed. As will be described later, the dot array 12
At a pitch substantially equal to the pixel pitch of the display pixel of P21,
When the dot array 12 encoding the X coordinate value and the dot array 12 encoding the Y coordinate value are alternately arranged and formed, the area is the display pixels of the PDP 21 for, for example, 2 × 2 display pixels. It is a wider area. In this embodiment, the area read by the area sensor 2 is a PDP.
21, 2.5 × 2.5 display pixels. The area sensor 2 and the objective lens 3 are configured such that a plurality of pixels of the area sensor 2 correspond to one dot forming a dot array 12 described later. In this embodiment, 9 pixels of 3 × 3 of the area sensor 2 are configured to correspond to one dot.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a light emitting element for irradiating the coordinate plate 11, for example, an LED, a semiconductor laser element, or the like.
A collimator lens 5 for making the irradiation light parallel if necessary
Is provided. Further, a light collecting means such as a reflecting mirror may be used in order to increase the utilization efficiency of the light emitting element 4.

The signal processing circuit 6 binarizes the output of the area sensor 2 for each pixel of the area sensor 2 and outputs it to the arithmetic and control circuit 7 as digital image information. When the coordinate information recorded on the coordinate plate 11 described later is formed from a dot array, the binarization is performed as “1” information when there is a dot, and there is no dot or the background is “ This is performed as information of “0”. In the binarization, for example, when the pen 1 is located at the boundary between the white image and the black image according to the content of the display image of the PDP 21, the display image behind the coordinate plate 11 as viewed from the area sensor 2 is displayed. Due to the influence, the output level of each pixel greatly changes depending on the location in the area sensor 2, and the fixed threshold value processing may not be performed for binarization. In such a case, a so-called automatic gain control (AGC), such as changing the amplification factor of the sensor output from the output levels of a plurality of pixels, is used. Alternatively, a moving average method such as a moving average method for performing binarization by comparing an output of an arbitrary pixel of the area sensor 2 with a local average value of outputs of a plurality of pixels in the vicinity of the pixel, which is well known in a so-called image processing technique. Threshold processing is used. The dynamic threshold processing is performed by the operation control circuit 7 if necessary.
Executed in

The binarized digital information is sent to an arithmetic and control circuit 7 comprising a microcomputer, a ROM storing a control procedure or a correspondence table between coordinate information and coordinate values, a ROM storing the digital image information, and the like. And stored. In the arithmetic and control circuit 7, the later-described extraction of the first and second dot arrays in the vicinity of the center, the distinction between the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the extracted dot array, the respective coordinate values, and the directions of the X axis and the Y axis are performed. It is determined, the distance from the center of each dot array is calculated, and the coordinate value of the pen 1 is determined.

The determined coordinate values are sent to the transmitting means 8, based on a predetermined communication format.
It is transmitted to the receiving means 24 using infrared rays or radio waves. The receiving means 24 is housed in a predetermined small and lightweight box, and is connected to the CPU 23 by an interface such as RS-232C.

The pen 1 has a built-in battery 9 as a power source for driving the area sensor 2, the light emitting element 4, the signal processing circuit 6, the arithmetic and control circuit 7, the transmission circuit 8, and the like.

A pen point switch (not shown) is provided. The pen tip switch is turned on when the pen tip slides a predetermined amount along the pen axis toward the rear end of the pen 1 when the pen 1 contacts the coordinate plate 11. Only when the pen 1 is in contact with the coordinate plate 11, that is, in the input state, the pen tip switch is used, at predetermined time intervals, that is, at a predetermined sampling rate, driving of the respective units, reading of coordinate information, and coordinate values. Is determined and transmitted. Therefore, an extremely long battery life can be realized. Furthermore, the ON / OFF state of the pen tip switch may be transmitted to the CPU 23 by the transmission means 8 together with the coordinate values.

Next, the configuration of the coordinate plate 11 will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes two flexible transparent films 11a and 1
1b is a laminated structure of two layers bonded together. The materials of the films 11a and 11b are, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (P
C) or a transparent plastic such as acrylic. The film 11a and the film 11b are attached to each other with a transparent adhesive such as an acrylic adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape. A matrix-shaped dot array 12, which will be described later, is formed intermittently at a predetermined pitch over the entire input effective area on either one of the films 11a or 11b. The input valid area is
The size is set to be larger than the display area of the PDP 21 by a predetermined size so that the entire area of the display screen of the PDP 21 can be input by the pen 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the four corners of the coordinate plate 11 are adhered to the display surface of the PDP 21 with transparent and removable adhesive tapes 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d having appropriate adhesive strength. Installed. Generally, the display surface of the PDP 21 is a so-called frame surface 21 of the housing.
The outer size of the coordinate plate 11 is defined so that the coordinate plate 11 can be dropped and pasted on the display surface because it is located a predetermined distance behind a.

The dot array 12 corresponds to the film 13
Is formed using a known technique, for example, printing or printer technique. That is, by fine printing using photolithography (photolithography) or the like, or printer technology using ink ejection from fine nozzles,
The dot array 12 is formed.

Here, if there is a dot in the dot array 12, the information is "1", and if there is no dot,
That is, the transparent coordinate plate 11 with the display surface of the PDP 21 behind the coordinate plate 11 as the background is information of “0”. The P
By configuring the display surface of the DP 21 outside the depth of field of the objective lens 3, in the image read by the area sensor 2, the place where there is no dot and the background become a blurred image, and the dot is present. Appropriate contrast with the place is obtained. Further, the color of the dot array does not need to be particularly limited. However, dot array 1
Since the presence of 2 does not have any influence on the display image of the PDP 21, a less conspicuous color, such as gray, is desirable within an allowable range where the contrast can be obtained regardless of the content of the display image.

The front surface of the coordinate plate 11, that is, the front surface of the film 11a and the back surface of the film 11b, are provided with anti-reflection treatment for reducing the light reflectance as necessary so that the operator can comfortably view the displayed image. (Anti-reflection processing) or diffusion processing (non-glare processing) for diffusing light is performed. In order to prevent scratches or the like from being made on the front surface of the film 11a and the back surface of the film 11b, a hardened film of acrylic or silicon type, so-called hard coating, is applied.

The coordinate plate 11 having the above-described structure is provided with a PD if necessary.
It can be attached to and detached from the P21 display surface. Since the removed coordinate plate 11 is a flexible film and lightweight, it can be wound into a roll as shown in FIG. As a result, the coordinate plate 11 has a very excellent portability.

The attachment of the PDP 21 to the display surface is a simple operation of only bonding the four corners of the coordinate plate 11 with the inside of the frame surface 21a as a guide. 13b, 13c
And 13d only have to be peeled off, and the workability is extremely good. In addition, it is needless to say that a mark or the like is attached to, for example, an upper right corner on the front surface side so that the upper and lower sides, the left and right sides, and the front and back of the coordinate plate 11 can be identified. Alternatively, the effective input area may be specified by means of printing or the like so that the coordinate plate 11 and the display screen are roughly positioned between the effective input area and the display screen.

Next, the dot array 12 will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a small part of the input effective area. The area separated by the well-shaped thin line is PDP21.
Dot array 12Xi, 12Xi + 1, 12Xi + 2, which codes the X coordinate value of the input effective area at a pitch substantially equal to the pixel pitch of the display pixel.
Is a dot array 12Yj, 1 in which Y coordinate values are coded.
2Yj + 1 and 12Yj + 2 are alternately arranged and formed. When the display pixels are square and the dot array 12 of the coordinate plate 11 is formed such that the horizontal direction of the display screen is the X axis and the vertical direction is the Y axis, both the X axis direction and the Y axis direction have the same pitch. Thus, the dot array 12 is formed. Similarly, it is needless to say that dot arrays 12X1 to 12Xm in which X coordinate values are coded and dot arrays 12Y1 to 12Yn in which Y coordinate values are coded are alternately arranged in the entire input effective area. Although FIG. 3 shows that the dot array 12 is arranged between the pixels of the display pixels of the PDP 21, this is for the purpose of making the description simpler and easier to understand. It is needless to say that the coordinate plate 11 is stuck on the display surface of (1), and there is a corresponding positional shift.

The dot array 12 has a matrix of 6 rows × 3 columns, and one dot array 12 is formed from 18 dots. In FIG. 3, a state where there is a dot representing “1” is schematically represented by a black dot, and a state where there is no dot representing “0” is schematically represented by a white dot with a box. Needless to say, only dots actually exist (for example, FIG. 5). The size of the dot is desirably small enough that the operator can hardly identify it.
It is formed in a circular or polygonal shape having a diameter or sides of about m. Further, a gap substantially equal to the dot size is provided between the dots. The gap becomes a large dot when “1” is continuous, that is, when black dots are continuous, and the operator discriminates the dot at the time of operation, and the dot is worrisome and the operability is reduced. This is to prevent that.

Of the eighteen dots, three dots on the sixth row, which is the lowest row, are used to determine the X coordinate and the Y coordinate. That is, in FIG. 3, if “1, 0, 0” is configured from the left side, the x coordinate value is changed to “0, 0”.
If it is configured as "0, 1", it indicates the Y coordinate value. Also, the three dots in the first row, which is the top row, are configured as “1,1,1” in all arrays 12. Thereby, regardless of the rotation direction of the pen 1, that is, the direction of the area sensor 2 in the plane of the coordinate plate 11, the direction of the matrix is determined, and as a result, the X-axis and Y-axis directions (positive or negative) are univocal. It is determined by And 2
The X and Y coordinate values are coded by 12 dots in the fifth to fifth rows. In this embodiment, 4096 kinds of coordinate values can be represented by the presence or absence of 12 dots. It goes without saying that the pixel arrangement of the area sensor 2 is known irrespective of the direction of the area sensor 2.

The reading process of the coordinate values by the above-described configuration of the coordinate plate will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the explanatory diagrams of FIGS.

First, at step 101, the pen switch O
N / OFF is determined. That is, the pen 1 is the coordinate plate 1
1 and the pen tip switch is ON, an input operation is being performed, and the process proceeds to STEP102. STEP102
Then, the light emitting element 4 illuminates the vicinity of the pen tip, and the area sensor 2
Are a plurality of dot arrays 12 on the coordinate plate 11 near the pen tip.
Is read (FIG. 5). The area A surely contains one or more dot arrays 12 each representing an X coordinate value and a Y coordinate value. The read image is output from the area sensor 2 to the signal processing circuit 6, which performs a binarization process for each pixel in the signal processing circuit 6, and stores the read image as digital image information in the RAM of the arithmetic and control circuit 7.
Is stored.

Next, in STEP 103, the arithmetic and control circuit 7 performs a process of extracting the first dot array 12 close to the center of the image, that is, the center of the area sensor 2, with respect to the stored image information. In the extraction processing, in the image information, the pixel of “1” when there is a dot is 3 ×
First, a search is made for a portion in which approximately nine 3 are arranged and three pixels are arranged in an arbitrary direction at a pitch of approximately three pixels, that is, three dots in the first row of the dot array 12. In this search, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a region B of the image information corresponding to a region wider by a predetermined amount than a rectangle having one side of the diagonal length of one display pixel of the PDP 21 near the center of the image information, that is, The area B corresponding to an area of about 1/3 of the entire image information is scanned and searched. In the search, 3
It goes without saying that the process can proceed to the next step when the dot can be searched. As described above, the dot array 12 has P
Are arranged at the same pitch as the display pixel pitch of DP21,
Since the area A read by the area sensor 2 corresponds to 2.5 × 2.5 display pixels of the PDP 21, the area B always includes one dot array 12. However, since the three dots searched by the above-described search are not necessarily the three dots in the first row, the two dot arrays 12 centered on the three dots are next set in the direction perpendicular to the line connecting the searched three dots.
Is scanned, and the first dot array 12 is extracted.

Next, in STEP 104, the directions of the X-axis and the Y-axis preset on the coordinate plate 11 are determined in the stored image information from the direction of the first dot array 12. The determination is performed, for example, as shown in FIG.
Looking at the matrix of 6 rows x 3 columns at the correct position as shown in
When the right direction is set as the positive direction of the X-axis and the upward direction is set as the positive direction of the Y-axis, the positive directions of the X-axis and the Y-axis are determined from the correct position direction of the first dot array 12 (FIG. 5). . From the code array of three dots in the sixth row of the first dot array 12, it is determined whether the first dot array 12 is the coordinate information obtained by coding the X coordinate value or the coordinate information obtained by coding the Y coordinate value. Determine. Next, the first dot array 12
The coded coordinate value of the X-axis or the Y-axis is determined from the code array of 12 dots in the second to fifth rows. In this determination, a reference table or the like is used as necessary.

Next, in STEP 105, the first
The position on the image information of the second dot array 12 to be extracted is estimated and extracted from the position of the dot array 12 on the image information and the positive direction of the X axis and the Y axis. In the estimation and extraction, for example, in the present embodiment, the coordinate information of the Y coordinate value which is close to the coordinate information of the X coordinate value is separated by a distance of one display frame in the ± direction of the X axis or the Y axis.
Are located. For this reason, from the position of the first dot array 12 on the image information and the positive direction of the X-axis and the Y-axis, the dot array 12 closer to the center of the image information should be extracted from the four. As the second dot array 12,
The second dot array 12 can be extracted by estimating the position and scanning image information of a predetermined area D larger than the area of the dot array 12 (FIG. 5).

Next, in STEP 106, the coded coordinate values of axes different from those of the first dot array 12 are determined from the code array of 12 dots in the second to fifth rows of the extracted second dot array 12. Is done.

Next, in STEP 107, the distance between the first dot array 12 and the second dot array 12 and the center of the image information is calculated. The distance is the distance between the X axis or Y axis corresponding to the X or Y coordinate value represented by the first or second dot array 12 and the center of the image information (the center of the area sensor). The position of the coordinate value represented by the dot array 12 can be set to a desired position in the dot array 12. In the present embodiment, when the dot array 12 is viewed at the normal position, the lower left end of the dot in the third row and the second column is set as the position of the coordinate value represented by the dot array 12, and the coordinate value is set to correspond to the position. Coded. Then, distances Lx and Ly between the X-axis and Y-axis passing through the position and the center of the image information are calculated (FIG. 6). Needless to say, the distance is converted into a value on a coordinate axis defined on the coordinate plate 11.

Next, in STEP 108, the coordinate values of the first dot array 12 and the second dot array 12, and
The first dot array 12 and the second dot array 1
The exact position coordinates of the pen 1 are calculated from the distances Lx and Ly between the coordinate axes 2 and the center of the image information, that is, the center of the pen 1. In the calculation, the distance Lx from the center is
It goes without saying that the positive and negative directions of the X axis and the Y axis are added to Ly. Further, according to the calculation method, even if the pen 1 moves a small distance and the extracted dot array 12 is the same, the distance between the dot array 12 and the center of the image information is calculated differently. Movement is detected. That is, an extremely high-resolution coordinate input device can be provided. Further, the same high accuracy can be achieved in the entire input valid area.

Next, in STEP 109, the calculated X and Y coordinate values are sent from the arithmetic and control circuit 7 to the transmitting means 8,
The data is input to the CPU 23 via the receiving means 24.

Prior to the above-described operation, a procedure for adjusting the coordinate system of the coordinate plate 11 and the coordinate system of the PDP 21 or correcting the detected coordinate values, for example, displaying a plurality of desired points on the display screen. Well-known measures such as inputting the pen 1 with the point are performed.

As shown in the above configuration and operation, the flexible transparent film 11 capable of winding the coordinate plate 11
With the configuration of a and 11b, a coordinate plate with extremely excellent portability can be realized.

In this embodiment, since the dot array 12 is formed not on the front surface or the back surface of the coordinate plate 11 but on the bonding surface between the layers of the laminated structure, the operator operates the coordinate plate 11 with the pen 1. When the pen 1 touches, strikes, or rubs the coordinate plate 11 when pointing or moving and scanning the surface of the pen, the pen array 1 does not directly contact the dot array 12 and the dot array 12 , Deformation, abrasion, thinning, discoloration, falling off, etc., do not occur at all, the dot array 1
2 can be held.

In this embodiment, the information contained in the dot array 12, which is the coded coordinate information, is X
Since the coordinate value and the Y coordinate value are not a pair but one of them, the information amount of one piece of coordinate information can be halved, and a large gap space is arranged between the adjacent dot arrays 12. By recording intermittently as described above, the number of coordinate information can be significantly reduced. This is because, for example, in the coordinate plate 11 having an input effective area of 1 m × 1 m, the arrangement pitch of the dot array 12 of the matrix of 6 rows × 3 columns is 1 mm for both the X and Y axes, and the dot shape of the dot array 12 is Assuming that the diameter is 30 μm, the total area of the area where the dots are present is about 0.7% of the entire input effective area in terms of the area ratio, and even if the coordinate plate 11 is bonded to the display surface of the PDP 21, The dot array 12, which is the coordinate information recorded in 11, has almost no adverse effect on the display image.

The above-described effects are obtained in the directions of the X axis and the Y axis and in the X axis and the Y axis.
In order to discriminate the coordinate value from the Y coordinate value, this is performed by using only a total of 6 dots in the first row and the sixth row of the dot array 12 of the matrix of 6 rows × 3 rows.

Further, the dot array 12 has a structure in which there is a gap between the dots forming the array, so that the dots are continuously connected and the operator does not recognize the coordinates, and the coordinate information can be easily recognized. It is possible to perform a good input instruction operation without having to perform the above operation.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the arrangement pitch of 1 mm of the dot array 12 is equal to the pitch of the display pixels.
The dot shape of the dot array 12 is φ30 μm, and the reading area of the area sensor 2 is 2.5 × 2.5 as described above.
If 3 × 3 pixels of the area sensor 2 correspond to one dot for display pixels, the number of pixels of the area sensor 2 is 2
It becomes 50 × 250, and the total number of pixels is about 60,000 pixels.
The area sensor 2 having the number of pixels is a CCD type or CM
Any method such as the OS type can be realized easily and inexpensively, and the arithmetic control circuit 7 or the signal processing circuit 6 can be easily realized by the existing technology. It can be realized at a cost with reasonable economics.

Further, only the coded coordinate information is recorded on the coordinate plate 11, which causes instability due to electric and magnetic noises, limits the space for arrangement and the shape of the device, and the hand of the operator. Alternatively, all degradation of detection performance due to the influence of other objects can be solved.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In the coordinate input effective area forming the XY coordinate plane, X
A rollable flexible coordinate plate on which a plurality of pieces of coordinate information corresponding to coordinate values and Y coordinate values are recorded;
With the configuration including the input indicator having the detecting means for detecting the coordinate information of the coordinate plate, the coordinate plate can be configured to be lightweight even on a large screen, and can be formed into a form suitable for being carried by winding. , Excellent portability can be provided. Also, an inexpensive coordinate input / output device that can be attached to a plasma display very easily can be realized.

Further, since the coordinate plate is made of a transparent resin, even when the coordinate plate is integrally formed with the various displays, an adverse effect on a displayed image can be suppressed to a very small level.

(Embodiment 2) In the coordinate input / output device of the present invention, the display to which the coordinate plate is attached is not limited to the PDP of the embodiment 1, but may be a liquid crystal display or various systems such as front and rear projectors. The present invention can be applied to any display means such as various display screen sizes from small to large. In addition, the mounting method is not limited to the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape of the above embodiment, and various methods can be applied.

This example will be described as a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a rear projector 31 with a coordinate plate 1.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of Example 2 to which No. 1 is attached. Cilia-shaped adhesive tapes (so-called magic fasteners (registered trademark), magic tapes (registered trademark), or Velcro) 15a, 15b, 15c, 1 are provided at four outer corners of a screen surface 31a which is a display surface of the rear projector 31.
5d is provided by a double-sided tape or the like. Coordinate plate 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes an input effective area having a size larger than the screen surface 31a by a predetermined amount, and further, at a position outside the effective input area and opposed to the adhesive tapes 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d, the adhesive tapes 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d. 14d is provided by a double-sided tape or the like. Then, the adhesive tapes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the coordinate plate 11 are attached to the adhesive tapes 15a, 15b, 1 of the rear projector 31.
5c, 15d, it is very easy to
1 can be attached to the screen surface 31a of the rear projector 31. Also, remove the adhesive tape 1
4a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are attached to adhesive tapes 15a, 1
It only needs to be peeled off from 5b, 15c, 15d.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 10 is a schematic view of Embodiment 3 in which a coordinate board 11 is attached to a so-called white board 41.

At the upper and lower ends of the coordinate plate 11, bar members 16 are provided.
a and 16b are provided. The rod members 16a, 16
A magnet (not shown) is provided at a plurality of locations on the surface facing the white board 41 of b. The board surface 41a of the white board 41 is generally made of a so-called enameled copper plate in which a glass coating is baked on an aluminum-plated copper plate, and the board surface 41a is formed by the magnet.
The coordinate plate 11 can be mounted very easily.

Further, by pulling the bar-like members 16a and 16b in the vertical direction, the coordinate plate 11 is not loosened and the board surface 41 is not loosened.
a. When removing the coordinate plate 11 and winding it up, the rod-shaped member 16a or 1
What is necessary is just to wind the film of the coordinate plate 11 around 6b,
The coordinate plate 11 can be made portable by a very simple operation. By projecting a display screen of a personal computer or the like on the coordinate plate 11 with a front projector (not shown) in a state where the coordinate plate 11 is attached to the board surface 41a,
This enables a so-called integrated input / output configuration.

In this case, it is desirable that the surface of the coordinate plate 11 is subjected to a diffusion process in order to reduce unnecessary reflection of the projection light. Further, the coordinate plate 11 does not necessarily need to be transparent, and a configuration in which coordinate information is formed between layers, for example, a transparent film on the front side and a white film on the back side may be used.

(Modification of Embodiment) The coordinate plate 11 may be attached to the screen surface or the wall surface by various means such as a so-called hook instead of the white board 41 described above. Further, the flexible windable front projector screen itself may constitute the coordinate plate. For example, the present invention is also applied to a configuration in which coordinate information is formed on the surface of a front projector screen having a white matte surface or the like.

That is, as described above, the coordinate input device of the present invention can be applied to various displays and various attachment means can be applied.

The device of the present invention does not necessarily need to be formed integrally with the display means. For example, it is separate from the display means and can be placed on a desk and used as an input device.

In any of the above cases, the coordinate plate 1
By constructing 1 into a flexible film form that can be wound up, a coordinate input device that is extremely excellent in portability can be realized. Further, depending on the configuration in which coordinate information is formed on the layer of the film, contact, hitting or rubbing with the pen or finger on the surface of the coordinate plate 11, or display surface, desk surface or carrying on the back surface of the coordinate plate. The coordinate information is never damaged, deformed, worn out, thinned, discolored, dropped off, etc. due to contact, impact, friction, etc. with various objects, and the coordinate information is permanently and highly reliable. Can hold.

Instead of winding the coordinate plate 11 for carrying, the coordinate plate 11 may be folded at a plurality of points in advance and the coordinate plate 11 may be bent so as to provide portability. Good.

The configuration of the coordinate plate of the present invention is not limited to the laminated structure of two films, but may be a laminated structure of three or more films, and the location where coordinate information is formed may be any one of the layers. .

In the above embodiment, the coordinate information is formed independently of the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, one of the gist of the present invention is that by forming coordinate information between layers of a plurality of coordinate plates, it is possible to hold coordinate information semi-permanently at extremely high reliability and at low cost. Yes, the configuration of the coordinate information is not limited. For example, a configuration in which the X and Y coordinate values are coded and included in one piece of coordinate information may be used. This configuration can be realized by, for example, a method of forming coordinate information in a dot matrix form, forming an X coordinate value in an upper row, and forming a Y coordinate value in a lower row. Needless to say, the method of including the X and Y coordinate values in one piece of coordinate information may be any method.
The method of coding the coordinate information is not limited to the dot array of the embodiment, and is a so-called dot-continuous dot, that is, coding by the length of a linear figure, or so-called by the width and interval of two types of lines. Any method can be used as long as the coordinate information can be encoded, such as encoding with a barcode.

In the coding by the dot array, the number of dots is determined by the required specifications, that is, the area of the input effective area, the definition of the displayed image, the accuracy or resolution of the coordinate input, or the specification of the area sensor of the input instruction means. For example, any number may be used. If necessary, the size, shape or color of the dot may be added. In coding, “0” does not necessarily have to be equivalent to the background. That is, on a transparent coordinate plate,
Both the dot representing "1" and the dot representing "0" have a predetermined color, and the dots "1" and "0" can be distinguished.
Any value can be used. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which dots representing “1” and “0” have the same color and different contrasts. Further, the gap between the dots is not limited to the same size as the dots as in the above embodiment, and may be any size. Desirably, the gap is set to be as large as possible. Further, a so-called DC-free dot array in which the number of “1” dots in the dot array section is substantially equal in all the dot arrays, so that the so-called grayness of the dot array may be uniform. . Furthermore, a configuration in which dots of “1” or “0” are continuously arranged, that is, a so-called zero run may be prohibited. The configuration in which the gray level is uniform or the zero-run is prohibited enables the display screen to look more uniform as a whole.

The retrieval and extraction of coordinate information is not limited to the above embodiment, and any method for retrieving and extracting portions and regions having desired features from binarized image information can be applied to the present invention. It is. For example, search and extract spirally from the vicinity of the center of the image information, or search for a predetermined area by thinning scan, and then search for a desired area.
Any method such as extraction may be used. The means for identifying whether the coordinate information is obtained by coding the X coordinate value or the Y coordinate value is not limited to the above embodiment. Any method is included in the present invention. For example,
The shape of the dot matrix and the like, the configuration content of the dot matrix and the like, and the size, shape and color of the dots are used for identification.

In the search, extraction, identification, judgment, etc. of the coordinate information, if necessary, the X and Y coordinate values can be checked, adjacent coordinate information can be referred to, or the immediately preceding sampling data can be referred to. It goes without saying that various check functions or an erroneous detection detection function by adding a parity bit and performing a parity check may be added.

The arrangement pitch at which the coordinate information is recorded intermittently reduces the number of pieces of coordinate information. Even if the coordinate input device is configured to be attached to the display device, the coordinate information recorded on the coordinate plate is displayed on the display image. Any arrangement pitch may be used as long as the adverse effect on the device can be extremely small. Desirably, the arrangement pitch is such that there is a gap between the coordinate information that is larger than the area occupied by the coordinate information. The arrangement pitch may be different between the so-called X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Further, it is not necessary to form the input effective area at the same pitch. This is effectively used, for example, in a system such as a personal computer related to the present invention when used as a system or a device such as an application or a dedicated terminal in which the frequency of use in the effective input area varies depending on the location. Things.

The structure of the input instruction means is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the input means has a pen-like configuration corresponding to so-called pen input. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may have any shape such as a so-called mouse shape.

As the light emitting element, a plurality of light emitting elements may be used if necessary. In addition, the area sensor detects an image using illumination in an environment in which the coordinate input device of the present invention is used, for example, indoor illumination, or detects an image using light emitted from the display screen itself. A configuration such as a configuration that does not necessarily require a light-emitting element may be used.

The configuration of the objective lens may be any configuration as long as coordinate information can be formed on the area sensor with desired brightness, magnification, resolution, angle of view, distortion, depth of field, and the like.

The present invention relates to the type of area sensor, the image size, the number of pixels or the internal configuration of the area sensor such as the A / D converter, the sensor driving timing IC, or the built-in various peripheral circuits such as the automatic gain control circuit. Is not binding.

The signal processing circuit and the arithmetic control circuit, which are electric / electronic circuits for detecting coordinate information, identifying the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value, or determining the coordinate values, are not necessarily input instruction signals. It need not be built into the means. That is, the shape of the input instruction means, the battery characteristics incorporated in the input instruction means, or the input instruction means and C
Depending on the specifications such as the communication method with the main body where the PU etc. are installed,
A signal processing circuit and an arithmetic control circuit may be provided on the main body side. In this case, it goes without saying that the content of the information transmitted and received between the transmitting means of the input instruction means and the receiving means on the main body side may take various forms as necessary. Further, the input instruction means and the main body may be connected by a predetermined connection code without providing the transmission means and the reception means as in the above embodiment. In this case, needless to say, a configuration in which power is supplied by the connection cord without providing a battery in the input instruction means is also possible.

Also, the receiving means, a personal computer or a CP
The connection with U may be wireless means using infrared rays or radio waves. In this case, when using and carrying the coordinate input device, there is no need to connect the receiving means to the personal computer or the CPU with a cable, and no cable is required. Operability and portability can be provided.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A large coordinate input device, a coordinate plate having good portability suitable for a coordinate input / output device, and a coordinate input device using the coordinate plate;
A coordinate input / output device can be provided.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claims 2 to 8, since the coordinate plate is made of a transparent member, even when the coordinate plate is integrally formed with the various displays, the adverse effect on the displayed image is extremely small. be able to.

According to the third to eighth aspects of the present invention, the coordinate plate has a laminated structure composed of a plurality of layers in the thickness direction, and the coordinate information is formed between the layers, so that the coordinate information is free Highly reliable and inexpensive coordinate plate, coordinate input device, coordinate input / output device that can avoid deformation, abrasion, thinning, discoloration, falling off, and the like, thereby preventing erroneous detection or undetection. Can be provided.

According to the invention described in claims 4, 6, 7 and 8, it is extremely easy and inexpensive to attach to a display surface such as a plasma display or a projector display, or to a so-called white board surface or wall surface. A coordinate plate, a coordinate input device, and a coordinate input / output device can be supplied.

According to the present invention, the X coordinate value and the Y coordinate value can be identified, and the coordinate information is recorded independently and intermittently. Even if the coordinate input device is configured as a display device and an input / output body type, the adverse effect of the coordinate information recorded on the coordinate plate on the display image can be extremely reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a pen used in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall system configuration of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a dot array of a coordinate plate used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for determining coordinate values according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of reading coordinate values in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of reading coordinate values in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how to attach a coordinate plate used in the first embodiment to a PDP.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a winding state of a coordinate plate in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 coordinate plate 12 dot array (coordinate information)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A coordinate plate on which a plurality of pieces of coordinate information corresponding to an X coordinate value and / or a Y coordinate value are recorded and which can be wound or folded. 2. The coordinate plate according to claim 1, wherein said coordinate plate comprises a transparent member. 3. The coordinate plate according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate plate has a laminated structure including a plurality of layers in a thickness direction, and the coordinate information is formed between the layers of the laminated structure. Coordinate plate characterized by the above. 4. The coordinate plate according to claim 1, wherein an attachment member for attaching to a display surface of a display device is provided on a back surface of the coordinate plate. 5. The coordinate plate according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate information can identify an X coordinate value and a Y coordinate value independently and intermittently. A coordinate plate characterized by being recorded. 6. A coordinate input device comprising: the coordinate plate according to claim 1; and an input indicator having a function of detecting coordinate information of the coordinate plate. 7. A coordinate input / output device comprising: the coordinate input device according to claim 6; and a display device having a coordinate plate disposed on a display surface. 8. The image input / output device according to claim 7, wherein the display device is a large plasma display or a large projector display.